Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL48804’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘USCAL48804’, characterized by its compact, mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous and freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; small light purple-colored flowers with darker purple-colored centers; and good garden and summer performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCAL48804’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCAL48804’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Calibrachoa plants with uniform plant habit, freely branching growth habit, attractive small flowers and good summer performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 8, 2005 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ05-48, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C377-04, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jul. 6, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jul. 10, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USCAL48804’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USCAL48804’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous and freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy         appearance.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Small light purple-colored flowers with darker purple-colored         centers.     -   5. Good garden and summer performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller flowers than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have pink-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than and not         as creeping as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have apricot-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa ‘USCALI212-1’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,421. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of ‘USCALI212-1’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact than and not         as vigorous as plants of ‘USCALI212-1’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flowered earlier than plants of         ‘USCALI212-1’.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa ‘USCALI48’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,707. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of ‘USCALI48’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller flowers than plants         of ‘USCALI48’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI48’ flowered earlier         than plants of ‘USCALI48’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL48804’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up of typical flowers and leaves of ‘USCAL48804’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Bonsall, Calif., under commercial practice during the summer and early autumn in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 38° C. and night temperatures ranging from 9° C. to 18° C. Plants were pinched one time and were three months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL48804’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ05-48, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C377-04, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 22 days             at air temperatures of 29° C. and soil temperatures of 17°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 days             at air temperatures of 21° C. and soil temperatures of 17°             C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, mounding and outwardly             spreading plant habit; freely branching habit with about             eight primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             lateral branches; pinching enhances branching; vigorous,             dense and bushy growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 10.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 41 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 2 cm.         -   Width.—About 8 mm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 147C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 18 to 22 open flowers and flower buds per lateral             branch; flowers face upright and outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa begin flowering about six weeks after             planting; plants flower continuously from spring though the             autumn in Southern California.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2.1 cm.             Diameter: About 6 mm. Color: Close to 69D.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 1.4 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.7 cm. Petal             shape: Roughly obdeltoid. Petal apex: Rounded with a shallow             central point. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal             lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to 69C. Petal lobe,             when opening, lower surface: Close to 69D. Petal lobe, fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 75C; color becoming closer             to NN155C with development; towards the throat, close to 77A             to 77B; venation, close to N77B. Petal lobe, fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 75C to 75D; venation, close to N79C.             Throat: Close to 3B; venation, close to N77C. Tube: Close to             2D; venation, close to N77B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals in a single whorl and fused at the base. Sepal             length: About 1 cm. Sepal width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 137A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 60° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: About             five per flower. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament             color: Close to 145B. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length:             About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 1D. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 1B. Pistils: Quantity: One             per flower. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Style length: About             6 mm. Style color: Close to 144D. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma             color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to N144D.             Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL48804’ as illustrated and described. 